What’s the best and cheapest way to move my family’s crap from MD to WA?

haydenlife asked:


We’re moving from southern Maryland to Tacoma, Washington. My wife and our two month old daughter are already there, and our two year old son will be driving out there about mid-spring. I’m trying to figure out if it would be better to hire a moving company, or to rent a U-Haul trailer. We’re on a pretty tight budget of about $3,000, so cost is a concern, and I keep getting a headache every time I try to figure out the costs for fuel, hotels, food, etc. Can anyone help me out with a little experience?

Roy

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4 Responses to “What’s the best and cheapest way to move my family’s crap from MD to WA?”

1. lukas_m_wilson Says:
   March 25th, 2009 at 6:40 pm

   Linda

   Three words - Big Yard Sale.

   Don’t take it with you. If it’s “crap” as you put it, decide whether it’s worth paying to haul it all that way, or whether you could replace it cheaply at the other end with the funds raised from selling your old stuff?

   If you still decide to take it, do it yourself, moving companies cost a fortune. If you can drive the truck, definitely do it yourself.

2. Kim Says:
   March 25th, 2009 at 10:10 pm

   Micheal

   My boyfriend and I moved from Boston Maschussetts to California…one trip…. and rented a u-haul to do it. The total was roughly $2000-$2500 plus gas plus stops along the way. Our total at the end was about $4000.
   You can do it. No prob Bob. Good luck

3. howfuzzywuzee Says:
   March 28th, 2009 at 10:16 pm

   Josephine

   Is this “crap” that you need to move worth more than $3000?
   If not maybe it would be cheaper to just buy new out there and ditch this stuff “crap”.
   If you think that you can get a moving company to do it for $3000 good luck. I would venture to say it will be more like $6000-$7000 minimum.
   Do you even have a vehicle that is capable of towing a loaded trailer? There’s a lot of mountains before you get to Tacoma.
   If not, figure on replacing your vehicle too once the trip is made with a non compatible one.

4. Darby Says:
   March 31st, 2009 at 11:19 am

   Brad

   Well, honey, just buck up. You are feeling overwhelmed right now. So what do you think, you’ll be on the road for about 4 nights and 5 days. I have pulled a u-haul trailer back to central MD from ft. Riley, KS, staying over at Terra Haute, IN (stayed at the Holiday Inn and had reservations) driving 8-10 hours (I think) with no problems. It was January and snowed hard all the way–wanted to pull off when it got dark, but there were no hotel rooms. Anyway, gas–take the miles times the gallons you get on your vehicle, but pulling the trailer eats up gas. So what, about $625 for gas, $750 for hotel and food, and what the trailer costs to rent. Call the moving company and tell them you want an estimate on moving–there may even be some real estate sites on line that would have an estimator. So how will the boy be to travel with and how will the two of you get to Tacoma if you hire the movers. Good luck and God Speed. Get whatever kind of insurance U-Haul offers (better to be safe than sorry). What kind of vehicle will be pulling the trailer.